Lot 1178: AKIRA YOSHIDA

AKIRA YOSHIDA
(Born in 1976)
Inu Hariko: Hamburger & Dokuro; Inu Hariko: Origami Kabuto; Inu Hariko: Kikka Dokuro
signed and titled 'Akira Yoshida; Inu Hariko: Hamburger & Dokuro; Inu Hariko: Origami Kabuto; Inu Hariko: Kikka Dokuro' in Japanese (each)
three fiberglass reinforced plastics, urethane paint sculptures
41 x 42 x 19 cm. (16 1/4 x 16 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.) x 2 pieces; 94 x 88 x 44 cm. (37 x 34 5/8 x 17 3/8 in.)
unique piece
Executed in 2008

Inuhariko are a distinct Japanese papier-mache product. Made by paper which is placed over a shaped wooden frame, once the paper is set, the wooden frame is removed and a hollow doll form of a dog is created. This doll like dog carries many meanings such as easy child birth and wishes for a child to grow healthily. I believe that this Inuhariko's obedience is similar to contemporary Japan itself, and is the motif of these works.

Inu Hariko: Hamburger & Dokuro (Lot 1178): on the left is a tattoo of an Americanized skull who wears a Buddhist symbol that eats a hamburger, on the right is a tattoo of upon the foundation of China, a dragon which envelops a chrysanthemum and the crest of Japan.

Inu Hariko: Kikka Dokuro shows the a tattoo image that represents that Japan's prosperity is a thing of the past, from the inside of the skull grows chrysanthemum and a crest of Japan and a commonly found tattoo of Japanese paulownia flower pattern. On Inu Hariko: Origami Kabuto: the folded origami represents the inability for Japan to defend its own country, a skull and the phrase namuamidabutsu (I sincerely believe in amitabha; lord have mercy on me) is tattooed on the body.